(Results: Lookout!, Words: Caspian)

2. Alyssa Lynch vs Poppy Drayton

Alyssa:
(25, 5’7, 33:14 FCBA, VIXENs)

Poppy:
(29, 5’6, 4:3 FCBA, Free Agent)

BEFORE:
Poppy Drayton makes her return to VIX soil as she faces off against another Bantamweight currently under contract: the beautiful, dangerous and ever-hungry Alyssa Lynch. Drayton of course having put an early end to Kyra Santoro’s ambitious start back in early 2017 when the Brit knocked the bigger girl out in five rounds. Part redemption tour tonight as she looks to repeat the feat yet with another Vixen.

“How’s Kyra doing? I hope I didn’t scar her too badly the last time we fought?” Poppy asks with a smirk from the press table earlier. “It seems the VIX Bantamweights can’t get enough of me, so I’m more than happy to oblige with another spectacular knockout tonight. This time with Alyssa Lynch, of course, who might be younger, but I doubt punches as hard as Santoro.”

Ever since Poppy got released by her stable Girls Friday early last year, she hasn’t had the best of results in the ring, managing to defeat Alice Eve recently but then falling soon after to former champion Chloe Bennett just a few months ago. Her potential still in question, this is a must-win scenario for her.

And the same could be said of Alyssa Lynch, who strode into the press hall earlier not really looking in the best of moods to smile and wave, having just gotten pummeled and humiliated for the second time by a certain Samara Weaving, who has slowly but surely grown yet into another irritating blonde stuck in the brunette’s side.

“Let’s get one thing straight first: Weaving had an unfair advantage on the sand when we fought that second time. I’d bet if the match was repeated in a standard ring like tonight, things would go different. As for Poppy, yes, she knocked out Kyra the last time, so she and the rest of us still have unfinished business, let’s put it that way. It’s a redemption match not just for me, but also for Kyra and the rest of our stable.”

Slight height advantage for Alyssa is negated, really, with both brunettes possessing the same build and fighting style. They pose eagerly at the podium, almost coming nose-to-nose as they place mutual, balled fists close to each other’s chins. Neither woman willing to step away from the confrontation first, so it’s up to the lucky ring official to get in close between, herding them apart with a hand to both their waistlines.

Fight night and Poppy looks geared up for action and dressed in a jade green sports bra with black highlights, similar-coloured gym shorts as she raises white gloves to the cheering crowds. In the other corner, Alyssa looks sensational and recovered just enough from her prior pounding, toned body wrapped in a simple red cloth bikini and black boxing gloves. Referee waves for the bell and HERE WE GO with ten rounds of Bantamweight action!

ROUND 1:
Alyssa’s clearly the woman with the tougher fight schedule, coming in hot and fast to try and show Poppy how it’s properly done. Poppy having to fend off an early barrage of punches to her arms, followed by more quick combinations that chase after her head as Lynch resumes the action as though she’s still fighting a certain blonde girl on the sand. As a result, more than a couple of fast hands manage to sting Drayton on the nose as she’s constantly pushed back in this opening minute, barely managing to blast anything of significance back, as Lynch keeps up the pressure on her throughout. Wild melee or two takes place in the center of the ring or closer to the ropes as Drayton decides to hold her ground, stick leather back into the Vixen’s chin and cheek, but the wild shoves do little to deter the hungry fighter, who always ends the exchange off with a daff hook of her own across the face to send Poppy packing. Wide round goes to Lynch at the bell, but the question is whether she can sustain this momentum in the long run.

ROUND 2:
Drayton holds her distance, allowing Alyssa to come in too hot and fast, before scoring with stiff shots across the Vixen’s chin and lips, as Lynch opens herself up to more punishment due to her own overeager foolishness. Vixen targets the head, but finds her punches hitting Poppy’s arms or the air in front of her face, as Drayton makes herself scarce this round, keeps leaping back and out of range before Lynch can wind herself up and charge her down. Smart strategy here as Lynch finds herself getting counter-attacked more often than she’d like, her nose and lips crunched by another one-two combo sent in late to finally give her pause and stay back. Poppy looking smug behind her own arms, having put up a firm defence and ending the round with a redemptive wide margin.

ROUND 3:
Lynch should take some of her own advice here as she continues to take this shellacking, her own impatience and temper meaning her defences are lacking in focus, as she takes another overhand punt to the forehead to start the third. Poppy slowly advancing upon her, blocking some wild combos with her arms, wincing once or twice when Alyssa bats a hook into her side, but then quickly retaliating with a right hand sent bashing into the Vixen’s face again. Lynch is taking damage too early here, too much, wincing as yet another combo stuns her to the chest and midsection, a follow-up cross crunching in too close to home as the brunette lets out a loud grunt and falls back, looking groggy! Could this be it?? Poppy leaps in eagerly, wants to score yet another upset here tonight - she catches Lynch one more time across the chin with a swinging hook, and DOWN ALYSSA GOES, losing her balance by the ropes before flailing downwards to her side with a loud grunt! It’s an early KNOCKDOWN for Poppy Drayton!!

Good lord - can no Vixen defeat this woman?! Poppy looks infinitely happy as she pumps her arms on her way back to the neutral corner, surveying the damage wrought out of the corner of her eye, as Alyssa rolls onto all fours and begins the slow process of making it back up to beat the count. Referee has given her about five counts thus far and Lynch takes as much time as she can afford on her knees before returning to her feet by the count of 8. Quite a scare there for the VIX corner as Lynch nods back at the referee that she wants to continue!

ROUND 4:
It’s Poppy’s turn to skirt in hot, blasting an early left-right-CROSS combo into Alyssa’s arms, which pushes her back with force. Drayton probably thinks this round must be THE round to make her statement, keeps repeating the same move as she tries breaking the Vixen’s guard with forceful punches, send her sprawling back down to the canvas for the final time. Lynch not enthused, of course, takes the brunt of the impacts with her tight guard, an occasional stiff hand to her tummy knocking the wind outta her lungs, but she manages to regroup and stay calm for the rest of the round. In the last minute, the wiley brunette is fighting back, exchanging fire with Drayton along the extent of the ropes as she stuffs her own right glove into Poppy’s mouth, another shot dingin’ off the top of her noggin’ as she beats Poppy’s assault back from whence it came.

ROUND 5:
Poppy’s growling with frustration now that she realises this fight might be going the distance - she scored a big victory with that knockdown attempt earlier on, but also begins to see Alyssa ain’t like her stablemate Kyra at all. Lynch is moving more methodical and aggressive, initiating rush combos out of nowhere and threatening to stun her again with punches sent between the eyes or sudden pokes to her belly. Poppy, for the most part, attempts to do the same, but finds it difficult to break Lynch’s well-trained guard even as she lands an early thumpin’ right hook to the Vixen’s side. No dice, as Lynch immediately absorbs the punch and responds blow-for-blow, burying another thunderous uppercut into her gut, then another cross-swing sent upwards and sideways, which catches Poppy clean on the chin!! Drayton wobbly as she grunts and flails backwards, and suddenly, it’s her turn to hit the ground on her back! A return KNOCKDOWN for Alyssa Lynch!

Poppy’s eyes narrowed as she looks up at her foe from the white canvas, gathering her bearings the best she can before trying to force herself upwards. Alyssa’s conserving her energy in the neutral corner, sweat-slicked belly pulsing in and out, in and out, as she makes ready for five more rounds of who-knows-what’s-going-to-happen action. Drayton beats the count by the count of 8, but looks shaky herself, staggering back and forth by the ropes. Still, she’s nodding to the referee that she wants to continue, so there goes the bell to resume the last two minutes for the round!

Lynch wades in fast and confident, resumes blasting shots to Poppy’s arms as she scores a nasty punt to the lips early on, drawing a gurgle from Poppy as her head’s thrown back at a dastardly angle. Drayton’s trying her best to survive as she forces her legs to move down the extent of the ropes, but can’t keep the energetic Vixen off her case, Lynch staying on top of her step for step whilst burying fists up into her body and chest, occasional BLASTING uppercut threatening to throw the Brit’s arms wide open. Another hook lands on the side of her chin, which ROTATES Drayton along the ropes! She looks absolutely flabbergasted, both hands draped over the top, her mouth and head hanging limp as the referee finally decides to jump in to SAVE HER from more destruction! And just like that, IT’S OVER in the same TKO fashion as before!

Official Decision: Alyssa Lynch defeats Poppy Drayton via TKO5!

AFTER:
Backstage, Kyra Santoro must surely be applauding this win, with her stablemate having put Drayton away in the same way she suffered just four years ago. Drayton falling into the referee’s arms, groaning as she can barely support her own weight.

Alyssa celebrates with a roar to the crowds, then mounting the corner turnbuckle and beating her chest in victory. It’s a small win in the grander scheme of things, but tell that to the Vixen, who’s been chasing her elusive golden opportunity ever since her debut back in 2016. Whether this year proves to be her year is still questionable, but at least tonight’s win keeps her hopes alive for a grander finale.